...

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In which there are Potentially Poisonous Bullets, Shinra is Sharp, Hatred is Selfish and Izaya is Not Worried

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Ikebukuro, afternoon, outside Russia Sushi

...

"SIIIIIMOOOON!"

People gasped as the name which resounded in Ikebukuro by the roar of a monster had suddenly changed.

"Hoooooh! Shizu-O!"

As he said the last syllable, Simon dodged the feared fist of the blond man, who was glaring at him as if he had replaced Izaya as his target.

"I'm going to kill you!"

"Kill? What I do? Killing bad –"

"SHUT UP!"

Simon catches Shizuo's fist with his big hand, though he's pushed back by the monster of Ikebukuro's strength.

Whispers were surmounting now, at the prospect of a fight between two of Ikebukuro's strongest men – the tall Russian Sushi Chef and the Man in a Bartender Suit.

"Shiz-uo, we not fight, fighting bad! Shizu-o peaceful man yes?"

Simon ducked from a punch that could damage even his head badly as he leapt back, holding up his hands in peaceful surrender towards the panting and glaring Shizuo.

"HOW DARE YOU GET ME DRUNK?! DO YOU KNOW HOW –"

Shizuo paused as warmth filled his cheeks, not wanting to declare to the whole of Ikebukuro that it was embarrassing –

"ARGHHHHHH- HOW DARE YOU?! I'M GONNA KILL YOU KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL – DIEEEEEEE SIMOOOOOON!"

People whispered amongst themselves and a distance away where he had been left, Izaya sighed, jumped down from the building, and strode to the scene of the fight.

"Shizu-chan, Simon, if I may interrupt –"

"Oooh, Iza-ya! You well yes?"

Izaya blinked, then realized. "Simon, you –"

"FIGHT ME DAMN IT, SIMON!"

"….."

Izaya shook his head as he watched the fight that had the potential to be brutal.

"Shizu-chan."

"I SAID STOP DODGING AND FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN!"

"Sorry no, I no fight! Fighting no bring peace!"

"YOU –"

"HEIWAJIMA SHIZUO!"

Both men froze and turned to the raven haired man who had shouted as loudly as what remnants of his reputation had allowed him to.

"What, flea?"

"What are we here for?"

"Hah?"

"Treatment, you protozoic brain! For your bullet wounds?"

Izaya said so sarcastically that Shizuo had the decency to look vaguely embarrassed.

"Bullet wounds? Shi-zuo shot?" Simon inquired in concern. "Bad, even if Shi-zuo! Michele no show mercy."

"Michele?" Izaya asked.

"Bassini assassin."

"….!"

"Mikeh – argh whatever his name is! Simon you know that guy?!"

"I had bad feeling, Izaya make bad move with Bassini."

"Bassini? The hell's a Bassini?"

"Bassini Mafia Boss." Simon lowered his voice, eyes serious. "King Cobra, dangerous. Izaya."

"Ah, that Mafia Boss the flea pissed off." Shizuo said in realization.

"Yes yes, Shi-zuo protect Izaya, Izaya alive!" Simon beamed. "Shizuo and Izaya now peaceful!"

"But," he said before Shizuo could snap, "Izaya right. Shi-zuo should get treatment. Michele maybe use poison bullet."

"Poison bullet?" Izaya said before he could stop himself.

"Yes. Illegal, dangerous, Bassini Mafia weapon. Michele invent. Genius."

"….Well I suppose an illegal organization like the Mafia would use illegal weapons." Izaya said. "Still, a poison bullet."

"Impossible. I'm still alive, aren't I? I'm still standing."

Shizuo scoffed, but Izaya didn't seem to buy his logic. The flea grabbed his arm without his permission and before he could protest, said to Simon –

"Then, Shizu-chan and I are going."

He paused, then spoke again -

"….Thanks, Simon. I owe you."

It seemed those words were said with sincerity and Simon smiled, waving as he watched Izaya drag Shizuo away.

"Take care, Iza-ya! Shi-zuo!"

"Yeah."

"What the hell, flea?! Let go before I break your arm!"

"Then don't go rampaging off again."

"….What's the hell's with you?"

"Who knows." Izaya said, because he really didn't know. "You're screwing up my head."

At the silence, he turned to look back at Shizuo, who was grinning very annoyingly.

"Yeah for you to give me such information free of charge I'm really screwing up your head huh?"

"Does Simon's sake have some brain-enhancing property?" Izaya bit back, not liking the warmth on his cheeks.

Shizuo's grin just widened.

Murmurs surrounded them for they were together and not trying to kill each other. Of course, it didn't take long for Shizuo to snap.

"THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS STARING AT?!"

The monster's roar drives all his humans away which Izaya is glad for, for once. He didn't want his humans to see him in such an out of control state.

He hadn't bothered being discrete because the monster is screwing up his head. And because his reputation is already ruined from yesterday's forced shenanigan with the monster who is screwing up his head.

So Izaya had decided to let the rumours spread until he got the beast treated and repaid his debt to the debt collector, and then he would embark on damage control after this whole surreal fiasco.

It didn't stop him from being annoyed though, his only relief was that Shizuo was annoyed too.

At least they're both annoyed now.

…

…

Half an hour later, outside an upscale apartment on Kawagoe Highway

...

"It's the apocalypse! APOCOLYPSE –Mphhhhh-"

Having covered Shinra's mouth with her shadows, Celty flashed her PDA with a shaking hand to Shizuo and Izaya.

[Why are you two together?! Wait you aren't really together aren't you?! Shizuo you still haven't told me why you were at Izaya's place! I mean, it was you who I spoke to in the chatroom just now and not an alien right?!

Wait would an alien even know how to use technology – or maybe they use their own technology?! Y-You and Izaya aren't aliens right?!]

"Why hello to you too courier." Izaya said with an amused smile. "Shizu-chan and I are on a truce, so to speak. Rest your worries – or shadows."

"Tch." Shizuo said by way of reply as he brushed away a stray shadow that had come near him. "We're not aliens, Celty."

"C-Celty l-lo-can't breath-eeeee…."

Shinra's fading voice seemed to have snapped Celty out of her panic, for she removed her shadows from Shinra's mouth, causing him to choke and hold onto his abused throat.

[I'm sorry Shinra, are you alright?]

"Fine, Celty…."

Shinra gave his love a brave smile. He then turned to Izaya and Shizuo, clearing his throat.

"I always knew there was something between you two – RUFNEUNFEJKFJKD S-SORR-"

[Shizuo!]

Celty flashed, as at the same time Izaya spoke.

"Put him down Shizu-chan, he's your doctor remember? You can kill him later for his disgusting insinuation."

"THERE IS SOMETHING BETWEEN THE FLEA AND ME? HUH, SHINRRRRAAAA?!"

"NOOOOO – ACCCCCK."

Shizuo dropped Shinra roughly on the ground, and he held onto his poor, abused throat, hacking and coughing.

"Right….w-whyy…?"

"Shizu-chan here got himself shot."

[Shot?!]

"Yeah. And before you ask, it's my business because he got shot because of me."

Izaya said, and both Shinra and Celty stared at him.

"Anyway that's all you need to know, so won't you treat this monster here who thinks bullet wounds are like knife cuts? Even though those bullets are potentially poisonous?"

"I told you they're not poisonous, flea -"

"Potentially." Izaya repeated, looking pointedly at Shinra, who blinked.

"Right. But Izaya…."

His only friend tilted his head, staring at him with a half bemused, half puzzled look.

"Why are you so worried? About Shizuo of all people?"

"Worried?"

Izaya said.

"What worry? I'm not worried at all. I'm just annoyed. Very annoyed. Because I have to take responsibility for this beast's wounds. When all I want is for him to die. But by my hand. So, I'm not worried, I'm just annoyed that someone tried to kill Shizu-chan who's supposed to be my prey. And I'm even more annoyed because Shizu-chan did save my life and that's why he got shot and so that's why I have to take responsibility. And did I mention I have to pay for his medical treatment? So I'm very annoyed. And I'm not worried at all."

With those words, Izaya stalked past Shinra into the apartment, fuming under his breath. Shinra, Celty and Shizuo stared after him for a moment, before the brave soul broke the silence –

"….He's definitely worried."

He yelped in surprise as he barely evaded a knife that came flying at him from inside his own house.

"I heard that, Shinra."

"Ahahaha…."

Shinra chuckled nervously, then turned to Celty and Shizuo and murmured in a voice that Izaya couldn't hear –

"See?"

It was only because of Celty's shadows that the second knife avoided puncturing his back.

…

…

"I know not what is this worry you speak of."

"I didn't even say anything about worry."

Izaya wasn't pouting. Nope, he was frowning very deeply. Very very deeply. A very manly, deep frown. Not a childish, girlish pout.

"….I'm not pouting."

He said when Shinra stared at him as if thinking he was indeed pouting, which he was not.

"I didn't say you were pouting."

"You were accusing me with your staring."

Izaya countered, and Shinra just smiled at him in amusement.

"He brings out your sensitive side, I see."

"Say that again and you'll have to stich up your own wound."

Shinra chuckled in reply, but noticed Izaya looking at him.

"Don't worry, he's fine."

Izaya bit back the retort that he wasn't worried since Shinra didn't seem to believe his words.

"How much do I owe you?"

Unfortunately, Shinra didn't seem to acknowledge his attempt to change the topic as he spoke at the same time –

"You know, Celty brought in two men yesterday. Oh at first I was devastated because I thought Celty was cheating on me – but she said they pissed off Shizuo." Shinra hummed with a casual smile.

"Does this have anything to do with Shizuo's bullet wounds, Izaya?"

"You think?"

Izaya asked as he stared out from the balcony, and Shinra sent him an amused glance.

"Considering they're foreigners who pissed off Shizuo, I'd think they were assassins coming to kill you. Since they're foreigners and all and normal foreigners wouldn't piss off the man in a bartender suit, his reputation transcends Ikebukuro. Really, what did you do this time? Maybe you were behind the Yakuza war on the news? Celty was watching the news yesterday morning, and she said it was probably your doing."

As he spoke Shinra rested his elbows on the balcony railing casually, gesturing as if he was speaking about a hypothetical situation when he was speaking to the mastermind of said Yakuza war –

"Still, I didn't know the Yakuza would hire assassins. Or maybe someone else happened to get injured in the crossfire? Those guys didn't look American, so not the American mafia maybe. But perhaps, it's still the mafia – the original mafia? You know, from Italy. Ah but still that wouldn't make sense why they would seek to kill you, unless the guy from the mafia figured out you're behind his injury. Which he wouldn't have been able to if he wasn't in contact with you."

"….It's almost scary how sharp you are sometimes, Shinra."

"Well, since Nakura-kun recently came to me for plastic surgery I just put two and two together. It isn't that hard to guess, really. He said you sent him to the Yamaguchi-gumi's hideout to obtain some illegal weapons for the Awakusu-kai. Now that's a dangerous mission. I figured you had to have done something for him to still be alive."

"So you knew all along."

Shinra just shrugged with a smile at Izaya's look. "It's not really any of my business."

"I'm just surprised that if it weren't for Shizuo, you would be dead. When he's the one always trying to kill you. This time he actually saves you! Haha! It's like a miracle, isn't it?"

Shinra laughed heartily, as Izaya turned his face away.

"Who knows, since he saved your life, and you were worried –"

"I'm not worried."

"– For his bullet wounds when you yourself know how indestructible he is, perhaps you two will finally be able to get along! I'm still waiting for the day that happens, you know."

"You'll have to wait forever. Shizu-chan and I will never get along. This is just a one time thing. It doesn't mean anything."

Izaya said as he twirled a lock of black hair idly, as Shinra leaned his back against the balcony.

"Haha. Is that so? It's some progress though! Ah but of course, as long as I have Celty I don't really care about you two and your troubles. Just, the tension is tiring sometimes. Oh of course Celty's presence makes everything better –"

Izaya tuned Shinra out as his friend began to ramble about his Dullahan's loveliness and how she could ease even the animosity between him and Shizuo.

- Me and that brute, on good terms?

- Impossible, Shinra.

- He hates me

- And I hate him

- He probably protected me 'cause if anyone's gonna kill me, it's him

- He's simple minded like that.

- The miracle is that I'm still alive.

"And did I tell you Celty's cooking is getting better? You really should try her cooking sometime! Oh and bring Shizuo along with you too. Hey since he stayed with you yesterday night did you two sleep in the same bed? Eh kinda gross. Or did you make him sleep on the couch? Oh and is Shizuo a good cook? If he is, he and Celty should cook together, Celty's looking for someone who can teach her cooking! Don't worry since he'll be cooking with Celty he won't poison your food, my Celty has too big of a heart even for a horrible person like you."

"I don't know about that brute's cooking and I don't want to know."

Izaya lied easily, which Shinra saw through just as easily –

"Ah, really? You cooked breakfast then? I'm surprised Shizuo ate the food you cooked for him. Wouldn't you have poisoned it? Or maybe he felt guilty for troubling you yesterday – he is a good person you know? Shizuo, I mean. Celty always says so. Eh but you know he kind of criticized me when I said I want to selfishly possess Celty and I would be the villain for that – he said it's twisted even for love! Now that was a surprise."

Shinra spoke rapidly, smiling at Izaya who was still not looking at him.

"Of course, that moment has yet to come, since there already is a villain, right Izaya?"

"Nice to know I've influenced even you." Izaya said, "And you call me bad. At least I –"

He paused, and Shinra's smile turned curious.

"Hm? You?"

"Nothing." Izaya said smoothly, as if he hadn't stopped talking at all and his heart wasn't beating a little faster for a reason he didn't know.

"You know, I'm still waiting for you to cut off your ties with Shizu-chan, I'd accept it as repentance for you introducing a monster into my life and corrupting my vast love for humanity."

"Why would Shizuo corrupt your vast love for humanity?"

"Because he's a monster and I love only humans." Izaya waved a hand.

"You see, if Shizu-chan didn't exist, I would be able to love all of humanity. But since he exists, I can't love all of humanity and that's very unfair, don't you think? I, who loves humans unilaterally can't love all of them because one of them isn't human. That's why, I hate Shizu-chan. He's corrupted my selfless love!"

Shinra's smile seemed to widen at Izaya's dramatic speech, his eyes on the black haired man.

"Isn't that strange?"

"What is?"

Izaya was looking at him curiously, so Shinra continued.

"Your love. Love isn't selfless. Love is selfish. Like me with Celty – wanting to possess her love all for myself, isn't that selfish?"

"Yes yes, I understand that all too well. It's like my love for humans after all, humans are mine! I own humans. They're all mine, they belong to me."

Izaya said with a twisted look and malicious smile, but Shinra's bemusement seemed to increase.

"Of course, of course, you can have humans all you want. Still, love really shouldn't be selfless, you know?"

"….What are you implying, Shinra?"

Izaya gave Shinra a sharp glance, but the man in a white lab coat only smiled.

"Nothing at all, Izaya. I just find it interesting how your love for humans is so selfless, that you can love all humans. Except for Shizuo. He is human, you know. But your hatred for him is quite selfish…..don't you think so?"

"He's the only one you hate after all."

Izaya's heart pounded in his chest at the mention of his inexplicable hatred for the human who was an exception to his love. But he said nothing, and Shinra smiled.

"You can't stay out here forever."

"Yeah."

Izaya said, and turned away from the balcony to go back inside.

…

…

…

The next chapter is the last...and it should be pretty long well definitely longer than this. We're almost nearing the end~

This was supposed to be posted earlier, but I've been struggling with html coding and ccs (css? whatever) It's like killing me and reviving me at the same time. By the time I 'finished' I was so exhausted I didn't feel like writing anything more...not to mention medicine was making me drowsssyyy
But yeah I finally got off my lazy ass and created an account on tumblr...not sure what I'm gonna post there probably related to my stories or theories or something but I gotta work on the design first lol...like how the hell do you link here and link there?! Sigh one step at a time...

Anywayy give me another week for the last chapter~I hope to give a satisfying ending!